The camera’s sensitivity to light (ISO sensitivity) can be adjusted according to the amount of light available. In general, choosing higher values allows faster shutter speeds at the same aperture.

Adjusting ISO Sensitivity

  • Hold the S button and rotate the main command dial.

  • Choose from the following settings.

    Z 7II: Choose from settings of ISO 64 to 25600; the camera also supports settings below ISO 64 by about 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1 EV (ISO 32 equivalent) and above ISO 25600 by about 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, and 2 EV (ISO 102400 equivalent).

    Z 6II: Choose from settings of ISO 100 to 51200; the camera also supports settings below ISO 100 by about 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, and 1 EV (ISO 50 equivalent) and above ISO 51200 by about 0.3, 0.5, 0.7, 1, and 2 EV (ISO 204800 equivalent).

  • At default settings, adjustments are made in steps of 1/3 EV. Steps of 1/2 EV are also available via Custom Setting b1 [EV steps for exposure cntrl].

  • b offers an ISO AUTO option.

  • The option currently selected is shown in the shooting display and control panel.

High ISO Sensitivities

The higher the ISO sensitivity, the less light needed to make an exposure, allowing pictures to be taken when lighting is poor and helping prevent blur when the subject is in motion. Note, however, that the higher the sensitivity, the more likely the image is to be affected by “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Hi 0.3–Hi 2.0

A setting of [Hi 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity approximately 0.3 EV higher than the camera’s highest numeric ISO value (25600 in the case of the Z 7II, 51200 in the case of the Z 6II), equivalent to ISO 32000 in the case of the Z 7II or ISO 64000 in the case of the Z 6II. [Hi 2.0] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity approximately 2 EV higher (102400 in the case of the Z 7II, 204800 in the case of the Z 6II). Note that pictures taken at these settings are particularly prone to “noise” in the form of randomly-spaced bright pixels, fog, or lines.

Lo 0.3–Lo 1.0

[Lo 0.3] corresponds to an ISO sensitivity about 0.3 EV below the camera’s lowest numeric ISO value (64 in the case of the Z 7II, 100 in the case of the Z 6II), equivalent to ISO 50 in the case of the Z 7II or ISO 80 in the case of the Z 6II. [Lo 1.0] is roughly 1 EV below the lowest numeric ISO value, equivalent to ISO 32 in the case of the Z 7II or ISO 50 in the case of the Z 6II. Use for larger apertures or slower shutter speeds when lighting is bright. Highlights may be overexposed. In most cases, ISO sensitivities of ISO [64] (Z 7II) or [100] (Z 6II) or above are recommended.

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control

Auto ISO sensitivity control automatically adjusts ISO sensitivity if optimal exposure cannot be achieved at the value selected by the user in modes P, S, A, and M. You can select an upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control (100–Hi 2.0 in the case of the Z 7II, 200–Hi 2.0 in the case of the Z 6II) to prevent ISO sensitivity being raised too high.

  • Hold the S button and rotate the sub-command dial to select from ISO AUTO (auto ISO sensitivity control enabled) and ISO (auto ISO sensitivity control disabled).

  • When auto ISO sensitivity control is enabled, the shooting display will show ISO AUTO and control panel ISO-A. When sensitivity is altered from the value selected by the user, the ISO sensitivity will be shown in the displays.

    Monitor

    Control panel

  • Maximum sensitivity can be adjusted using the [ISO sensitivity settings] item in the photo shooting menu.

Auto ISO Sensitivity Control
  • If value currently selected for [ISO sensitivity settings] is higher than that chosen for [Maximum sensitivity], the value chosen for [ISO sensitivity settings] will serve as the upper limit for auto ISO sensitivity control.

  • During flash photography, shutter speed is limited to the range defined by the values selected for Custom Settings e1 [Flash sync speed] and e2 [Flash shutter speed].